ANNOUNCEMENTS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• The purpose of this course is to impart knowledge and provide skills up-gradation for general practitioners in Family Medicine at the primary healthcare level. This is not equivalent to any postgraduate residential courses in Family Medicine such as MD/DNB. Currently, this course is not affiliated to any university nor recognized by the Medical Council of India or any State council.
  The 2025 batch course will begin on January 2025.

Overview

• The International Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine (I-PGDFM) aims to train and certify doctors with postgraduate training in family medicine in the developing world and equip them professionally and spiritually to serve their country and the poor.
• The I-PGDFM is an accredited distance education initiative by ICMDA, the Distance Education Unit of Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India, and Loma Linda University (LLU), USA.
• The two year blended learning curriculum is designed to hone distinct family physician attitudes, skills and knowledge that qualify the physician to provide continuing, comprehensive medical and preventive care to families and the communities. The 'refer less, resolve more' motto of the course, sharing historical roots to family practice is a step towards a cost effective, patient centered, problem oriented, evidence based, global health care delivery system.

Eligibility Criteria

• ● This course is open to Indian and International applicants
• ● All candidates must possess a valid MBBS degree certificate (in India) or MBBS equivalent degree certificate (in other countries). (Provisional MBBS certificates shall not be considered/accepted). Candidates possessing higher degrees, diplomas, or fellowships can also apply.
• ● Candidates residing in India must possess a valid MCI/ NMC/ State Medical Council registration.
• ● International candidates/Non Resident Indians should be registered with appropriate accrediting bodies in their country of practice.
• ● All candidates must bring along a non-MBBS graduate in any field who has an interest in mental health work. The graduate degree holder must possess a valid degree certificate and should be comfortable in written and spoken English.
• ● The MBBS doctor is the primary applicant for this course, but must apply for this course as a team along with a non-MBBS graduate. Neither the MBBS doctor nor the non-MBBS graduate can apply independently for this course.

Program Details

• ● Entrance Exam: None
• ● Course Duration: 1 Year
• ● Maximum No. of Seats: 40 Teams (Each team consisting of one MBBS doctor and one non-MBBS graduate)
• Course Fee for each team (Single common fee for BOTH the MBBS doctor and the non-MBBS graduate)
• ● Indian citizens residing in India- INR 90,000
• ● Non Residential Indians- USD 2,600
• ● Citizens from any other SAARC country (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka)- USD 1,600
• ● Citizens from Non-SAARC country- USD 2,600
• Please note that the course fee will not be refunded or transferred to another course.
• Course Objective
• One of the core objectives of this course is to create primary care mental health teams. It is for this reason that every doctor has been asked to enroll along with another Non-MBBS graduate. To achieve the goal of creating mental health teams, the course has been specifically designed to foster team building. Course materials have been appropriately designed to meet the learning needs of both members of the team.
  
  Non-pharmacological strategies, which are time-consuming, are very important in the management of mental health problems. These can be effectively administered by appropriately trained non-doctor graduates as well. Therefore, an integrated management plan that involves an MBBS doctor and a non-MBBS graduate will greatly benefit patients in primary care settings where specialist care is scarce or unavailable.
• Topics covered
• ● Normal human development through life cycle
• ● Applied neuroscience and psychopharmacology for primary care
• ● Basic psychodynamic principles in general practice (individual and family dynamics)
• ● Learning theory and cognitive-behavioural principles in general practice
• ● Culture, religion and mental health
• ● Consultation skills and holistic assessment of patients with mental health issues.
• ● Psychotherapy skills including psycho-education, supportive psychotherapy, and basic cognitive-behavioural strategies
• ● Organic mental disorders including delirium and dementia
• ● Primary care neurology including epilepsy, headache syndromes and movement disorders
• ● Substance dependence and behavioural addictions
• ● Severe mental disorders like psychosis and bipolar disorder
• ● Common mental disorders like depression anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress-related disorders,and medically unexplained symptoms
• ● Suicide in general practice
• ● Childhood and Developmental disorders including mental retardation and autism spectrum disorders
• ● Other topics including eating disorders, sleep-related disorders and human sexuality.
• ● Special areas in mental health including community mental health, women’s mental health, mental health throughout the life cycle (including end of life care and grief) and ethics in mental health
• Course components
• ● Self-paced self-learning interactive online modules.
• ● Module Online Interactive Sessions - one live online teaching session after each module.
• ● Online discussion forums.
• ● Online assignments after each module.
• ● Two Online ‘Contact Programs’ - periods of intensive interactive online live teaching and learning sessions using flipped classroom methodology.
• ● Project Work
• ● One-on-one online mentoring sessions with the teaching faculty for each team of students.

Video about the PGDRM Course

Eligibility Criteria

• ● This course is open to both Indian citizens and foreign nationals
• ● Click here to view the prospectus (Admission bulletin)
• ● All candidates must possess a valid MBBS degree certificate or equivalent. (Provisional MBBS certificates shall not be considered/accepted). Candidates possessing higher degrees, diplomas, or fellowships can also apply.
• ● Indian candidates residing and working in India must possess a valid MCI/ NMC/ State Medical Council registration.
• ● International candidates/Non Resident Indians should be registered with appropriate accrediting bodies in their country of practice/study.
• ● All candidates must bring along a non-MBBS graduate in any field who has an interest in medical/rehabilitation work. Any graduate degree holder is eligible (but must possess a valid degree certificate and should be comfortable in written and spoken English).
• ● The MBBS doctor is the primary applicant for this course but must apply for this course as a team along with a non-MBBS graduate. Neither the MBBS doctor nor the non-MBBS graduate can apply independently for this course.
• ● A candidate cannot be enrolled simultaneously in more than one course run by the Department of Distance Education, CMC Vellore.

Eligibility Criteria

• ● Click here to view the prospectus (Admission bulletin)
• ● All candidates must possess a valid MBBS degree certificate or equivalent. (Provisional MBBS certificates shall not be considered/accepted). Candidates possessing higher degrees, diplomas, or fellowships may also apply.
• ● Indian candidates residing in India must possess a valid MCI/ NMC/ State Medical Council registration.
• ● The MBBS doctor is the primary applicant for this course, but must apply for this course as a team along with an Allied Health Professional (Nurse, Dietitian, Physiotherapist or Clinical Psychologist) who will be referred to as “Lifestyle Medicine Associate”. Neither the MBBS doctor nor the “Lifestyle Medicine Associate” can apply independently for this course.
• ● In case the MBBS Doctor or the “Lifestyle Medicine Associate” has previously enrolled for any of the other distance courses run by the Distance Education Unit, CMC Vellore, it is mandatory that the candidate have fulfilled all requirements and graduated the previously enrolled course before applying for PGDLM. A candidate cannot be enrolled simultaneously in more than one course run by the Distance Education Unit, CMC Vellore.
• Applicants, please note that the above criteria are mandatory for admission to the course.
• GOAL OF THE PROGRAM
• To equip Doctor and Lifestyle Medicine Associate teams with the attitudes, knowledge, and skills for the practice of lifestyle medicine and to be an advocate for the same.

CGD Online application details

• Click here to fill in the application Form
• Application fee
• Indian citizens residing and working in India- Rs.250/-
• Non Residential Indians/Foreign Nationals- US$10
• Citizens of SAARC Countries other than India- US$3

FID Online application details

• Click here to fill in the application Form
• Application fee
• Indian citizens residing and working in India- Rs.500/-
• Non Residential Indians/Foreign Nationals- US$10
• Citizens of SAARC Countries other than India- US$10

About the course

• The Foundations in Dentistry (FID) course is designed to equip dental practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of the core principles that underpin effective dental practice. Participants will explore essential knowledge, clinical reasoning and rationale, professional attitudes, and decision-making strategies critical to delivering high-quality care.

Overview

• The overall aim of the PGDCBE course is to encourage and to equip learners to become and to be Christ-centered in their approach and practice of their profession, thereby upholding sanctity of life and dignity of humans irrespective of people’s socio-economic, cultural, linguistic, literacy and gender differences. In the provision of healthcare in addition to knowledge and skills one might possess, this will enhance the affective aspect of a person thereby enabling one to provide satisfying, wholistic healthcare, in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

I-PGDHCM Online application details

• Click here to download the course prospectus
• Click here to fill in the application Form
• Application fee: $10 (USD)
• Last date to submit the online application form is 31^st December, 2025

Overview

• The International Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Management (HCM) is a two-year Blended Learning course designed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills to manage institutions in diverse settings, focusing on resource-limited environments.